Wrightsville Beach October 12, 2006
Tex, at Tex’s Tackle, reports that flounder fishing has been very good on the inside in the inlets, waterway, and creeks on live bait or Berkley Gulps. Redfish are also moving around near the inlets, and they’re hitting both Gulps and live bait as well.
Bluefish and a few trout are biting in the inlets. Mirrolures, X Raps, and the usual grubs have been good baits for the specks.
Spots have been scarce so far, but the cold fronts moving through should turn them on. Fishbites bloodworms are the “go to” bait for them.
Nearshore, the spanish mackerel are feeding on small glass minnows from the inlets out to reefs in the 5 mile range. Small jigs, flies, and bucktails casted on light tackle are the way to go, but trolling small clarkspoons will also get a few strikes.
Kings have been in the 7 to 20 mile range in Onslow Bay and right along the beach in Long Bay. They’ve recently been found in places such as the river channel, Lighthouse Rocks, and Yaupon Reef.
Sea bass and grouper are moving closer to shore, with sea bass in the 10 to 20 mile range and grouper in the 15 to 30 mile areas.
The very few dolphin that are being caught have been reported from the 23 Mile Rock area. Gulf stream reports have been mainly wahoo. Most are averaging 30 pounds, but a few over 70 pounds have been brought to the docks to keep it interesting. Very few yellowfin have been caught, but at least three sails were caught and released this week.
Jim, at Plan 9 Charters, reports that spanish mackerel fishing has been excellent, with fish ranging up to 5 pounds. They are chasing very small glass minnows, so try to downsize the jigs you are throwing.
Gray trout are holding on the nearshore live bottoms.
Grunts, sea bass, grouper, and beeliners are being caught in the 15 to 25 mile range, and they will continue to move closer to the shore.
Mike, at Corona Daze Charters, reports that the inlets and waterway are still producing redfish, speckled trout, and flounder in decent numbers. Berkley Gulps are the way to go to target all three.
Kings are moving along the beach and are biting extremely well. The Southport area (in the river channel and on the nearshore structures) has been the most productive. There are plenty of big pogies along the beach to net for them.
Ryan, at Johnnie Mercer’s Pier, reports that plug casters are having steady action with bluefish. A few spanish mackerel are mixed with the blues, but not many.
Some spots have been caught, but the action is sporadic.
Keeper flounder are around, with most being caught on mud minnows and finger mullet.
The water temperature is 77 degrees.
